5 easy ways to optimize your Android home screen for maximum efficiency

I have been utilizing Android since its preliminary launch again in 2008. These early years have been tough going and typically it appeared as if I might made a mistake leaping from Apple. It is now 2024 and I am pleased I caught with my alternative. 

One of many largest explanation why I am glad I remained with Android is that the OS may be extremely environment friendly… particularly the house display screen. The place the iOS generally is a storage sale of icons, Android can just about be precisely what you need.

Additionally: How to disable personal results in Google Search on Android

However there is a catch. Every producer has its personal tackle Android. What you are able to do with a Pixel, you may not be capable of do with a Samsung Galaxy (and vice versa). That does not imply there aren’t issues you are able to do that transcend residence display screen launchers and OEM takes on the platform.

I wish to give you 5 methods you may make your Android residence display screen a way more environment friendly interface to your cellphone — no matter what system you utilize.

With that stated, let’s get to the guidelines.

1. Empty your private home display screen of unused apps

My Android residence display screen is, for essentially the most half, empty (extra on that in a bit). I’ve at all times discovered a house display screen crammed with app launchers to not solely be a complicated mess, but in addition redundant. With Android, you might have the App Drawer, which homes each launcher for each app you might have. And provided that the App Drawer is only a fast swipe up away, why not preserve your private home display screen clear and arranged such that you do not instantly see a dumpster crammed with launchers that has you swiping from web page to web page? Not less than the App Drawer is organized alphabetically and searchable.

Additionally: How to use Circle to Search on Android (and what models support it)

To stop app icons from being added to your private home display screen, lengthy press the house display screen, faucet House Settings, after which faucet the On/Off swap for “Add app icons to residence display screen.”

2. Use folders

As I discussed a second in the past, I preserve a really minimal Android residence display screen. What launchers I do retain are housed in folders, every organized by class. Inside every folder, I solely have launchers that I often use, and the folders are all named in response to their objective (comparable to Contacts, Social, and Google). 

You’ll be able to create a folder by merely dragging one launcher onto one other after which transferring the folder to a place on your private home display screen that makes it simple to entry. I preserve 5 folders on my residence display screen they usually all reside on the backside, so I can open them when utilizing the cellphone with one hand.

3. Preserve widgets to a minimal

You could be tempted to fill your private home display screen with widgets and that is completely fantastic. But when you will add widgets, not solely must you preserve them to a minimal, you must also solely use these widgets that serve a selected objective for you. 

Additionally: Android’s eSIM transfer comes to more smartphones. Here’s how it works

You must preserve your widgets to a minimal as a result of with so many widgets on your private home display screen, it may grow to be difficult to long-press your private home display screen for issues like accessing the house display screen settings pop-up. Must you wind up with too many widgets, you’ll first should swipe to a different web page to entry that long-press pop-up.

4. Preserve the Google search bar

Some residence display screen launchers help you take away the Google search bar. I’d suggest leaving it. Likelihood is fairly good that you just search along with your cellphone all through the day. With out the search bar on your private home display screen, you’d first should open your default internet browser after which run the search. 

With the search bar, you merely should faucet and kind your search string. Even higher, if your private home display screen launcher permits, I’d suggest transferring the search bar to the underside of the house display screen, so you possibly can entry it when utilizing your system with one hand.

5. Quick access to the Google App

The Google App may be very useful. Not solely does it provide you with fast entry to your Google account administration, however it additionally gives customized information gadgets and even native climate and sports activities scores (if that issues to you). Some residence display screen launchers ship with this disabled (some do not even permit it). 

Additionally: This new Android feature makes better selfies a snap

However for people who do permit it, enabling it’ll assist make your private home display screen a bit extra environment friendly (particularly should you wish to sustain on the information that issues to you). Some residence display screen launchers will fluctuate on how this function is enabled, however on the Pixel Launcher, it is so simple as lengthy urgent the house display screen, tapping House Settings, after which tapping the On/Off slider for “Swipe to entry Google app.”

I at all times preserve this function enabled, so a fast right-swipe on my residence display screen will get me fast entry to related data, information, and extra.

And there you might have it, 5 methods that may assist make your Android residence display screen extra environment friendly. After all, not each tip will apply to you, and also you may need even discovered one thing that works higher to your each day use. Both manner, here is to hoping you might have discovered the best setup that helps you extra successfully work together along with your cellphone.